Programme Manager – Major Nuclear Infrastructure Programme
UK-based – Long-term, nationally significant programme
The Opportunity
- We are supporting a client delivering a once-in-a-generation UK infrastructure programme, now fully authorised and moving into large-scale construction.
- This is a senior Programme Manager role with end-to-end accountability for the delivery of a major, complex portfolio of systems and assets, valued in excess of £1bn. The programme sits within a highly regulated, politically visible environment and will have a long-term national legacy.
- This role offers genuine ownership, scale and authority — suited to an experienced programme leader who has already operated under intense scrutiny and understands what it takes to maintain control of safety, cost, risk and schedule across multiple interdependent projects.
The Role
- The Programme Manager will lead the full lifecycle delivery (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning) of a major infrastructure portfolio, managing a team of 10–30 Senior Project Managers and Project Managers.
- You will be accountable for integrating multiple complex workstreams, managing significant interfaces, and ensuring delivery against agreed safety, quality, time and cost objectives.
- The role requires confident leadership within complex governance structures, regular engagement with senior stakeholders, and the ability to make sound, defensible decisions in environments where information is incomplete and pressure is high.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-end leadership of a major infrastructure programme or portfolio
- Direct leadership, coaching and performance management of senior project teams
- Oversight of programme cost, schedule, quality, risk and change
- Management of complex interfaces, dependencies and third-party contributions
- Establishing and maintaining effective delivery systems, controls and reporting
- Clear, authoritative communication with senior stakeholders and governance forums
- Proactive identification and resolution of delivery risks and issues
- Shaping and mobilising delivery capability as the programme evolves
- Ensuring effective handover and readiness as project elements complete
Candidate Profile
This role will suit a calm, credible and delivery-focused programme leader with a track record in major infrastructure or capital programmes.
You are likely to bring:
- 15–20+ years’ experience in complex projects or programmes
- Personal accountability for large-scale programmes or portfolios (not just workstreams)
- Experience leading large teams of senior project professionals
- Strong commercial and financial acumen
- Experience operating within complex governance involving regulators, government or JV partners
- The ability to translate technical complexity into clear decisions
- Confidence to challenge senior peers and executives constructively
- A composed leadership style that commands respect through delivery
- An engineering, project or technical foundation is expected. Experience in highly regulated environments (e.g. energy, nuclear, transport, utilities, defence) will be advantageous.
What’s On Offer
- Ownership of a high-value, complex programme with national significance
- Genuine authority and scale, rather than a diluted matrix role
- Long-term programme stability and executive-level sponsorship
- A delivery challenge focused on legacy, safety and excellence
If you are interested to find out more, get in touch for a confidential chat!